One might think that a political party wielding virtually total control of the nation’s most populous state – i.e. Democrats in California – would be satisfied.

One would be wrong because of a dependable political axiom – by eliminating competition with the rival party, hegemony breeds internal conflict.

That axiom was on display Saturday at a state Democratic convention in Sacramento as the party’s very liberal professional leadership was buffeted by insurgents with even more leftish agendas, such as universal health insurance, free college educations, a ban on fracking, and more aggressive action on climate change.

Energized by their dislike – make that hatred – of President Donald Trump, the insurgents appeared to outnumber party regulars among the 2,400-plus delegates. However, their true strength would be revealed in the outcome of a sharp-elbows battle to replace the longtime state Democratic chairman, John Burton, pitting veteran party functionary Eric Bauman against insurgent Kimberly Ellis.

It is, in part, a continuation of last year’s presidential nomination battle between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

The California Nurses Association, which had backed Sanders and is the chief proponent of universal health coverage, fueled the insurgency.

RoseAnn DeMoro, the nurses’ union’s top official, warned in a convention speech – to loud applause: “If you dismiss progressive values and reinforce the status quo, don’t assume activists … are going to stay with the Democratic Party.”

Tellingly, too, when Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon was speaking, the leftist contingent drowned him out with their chants until Burton, with characteristic profanity, calmed them down. Rendon has refused to endorse the pending single-payer medical care bill until its financing is made specific.

The state’s two top Democrats, Gov. Jerry Brown and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, didn’t attend – and perhaps with good reason. The party’s left-wing has been sharply critical of both for being too centrist.

However, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the leading Democratic candidate for governor next year, saw the tide turning and swam with it. He made a late endorsement of Ellis after initially backing Bauman, and during his convention speech, endorsed every goal of the leftist faction – and then some – potentially adding hundreds of billions of dollars in state spending.